We’ve been using the Canon Cinema EOS cameras for a few years now and have had both the C300 and C100 since the time they were released. Although we do shoot with RED and other cameras when the job calls for it (camera bodies are just tools for the right job) we like to use our in-house cameras that we know inside and out for most of our work.

Color grading is one of my favorite things to do in post production. Being able to create a unique visual look for each project is awesome but something I’ve always struggled with was know weather or not what I was seeing on my monitor was really accurate.

My friends at Texas Media Systems received their Panasonic GH4 shipment the day before I left for my trip to Budapest, Hungary, it just happened to be perfect timing. I was also lucky enough to have a few extra days before my workshop so I knew I would be able to do some testing. I’m also trying to constantly learn new techniques and improve my shooting so this was a chance to try hyperlapses.

We’ve been doing quite a bit of aerial filming over the past 9 months and we love what this new perspective is doing for our work. I’ve (Joe) have been flying single rotor helicopters for about 4 years, but in August I purchased my first multicopter the DJI Phantom. Since then we have upgraded to the much bigger brother, the DJI S800 Evo and this thing is awesome! We are currently flying the Panasonic GH3 but as soon as the GH4 comes out it will replace the GH3.

For the perfectionists/control-freaks out there, you’re going to have to make a decision at some point during your creation process and acknowledge something just as I did. I’m too close to the material. Too close to edit this thing myself and too close to only use my judgment all the way through. Can it be done? Sure. But I had willing and able editors ready for the raw footage, and I have a handful of very trusted friends and colleagues itching to see rough cuts — so why not use those resources.

In case you missed it in Part 1, Day 3 is a character driven piece that happens to be set months after the zombie apocalypse. The majority of the film takes place in one interrogation room. There are five actors present, which means we have to light for all of them and their anticipated blocking. The remaining segments of the film are told via flashback, and it was clear from the very beginning it needed to have a very different visual style to it.

Having recently locked picture on a short film, Joe and I would like to share some of the experience with you. For the sake of chronology and organization, we’re breaking it down into three parts starting with preproduction.